Display rack



W. H. AVERILL DISPLAY RACK Filed Oct. 26. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 20, 1928.

W. H. AVERILL DISPLAY RACK Filed oct. 26. 1927 2 Sheets-sheet Patented Nov. 20, 1928.

UNITED STATES y 1,692,324 PATENT ortica.

WILLIAM H. AVERLL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSGNOR TO JOSEPH POLLAK ITOOL AND STIYPING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPGRATGN. 0F

MASSACHUSETTS.

inspirar RACK. l

Application mea october 2c, 1927. sei-iai N0v aaa-vee.A

The invention is embodied in a 'display rack struct-ure of improved construction, adapted to be supported on ay level surface as an easel, or hung as a flat rack ona vertical' surface, and to hold and display articles of merchandise, the rack being adapted to be conveniently reduced to a minimum length forl storage and opened for use.

The preferred embodimentl of my improved rack structure is adapted to hold a plurality of boxes, each enclosing an oil stonefor sharpening tools.

Of the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification,-.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a display rack structure embodying the invention, adj usted to form an easel. .p

Figure2 is an edge view of the saine. 1

Figure 3 is an edge view showing therack structurev folded for storage.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 5 5 of Figurel 1. j Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 1, omittino the'box.

f igure 7 is a'perspective sectional view, showing the parts shown by Figure 4, with-I out the box cover. f

l Figure 8 is a perspective view, shdwing the rack structure adjusted as in Figures 1 and 2. v p

F igure'9 is arpersp'ective view, showing the rack structure adjusted for use as al hanger.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts'in all of the figures.

An element of my improved rack structure is a substantially Ushaped bow having a coupling part, and another element is a display board having` merchandise-confining means, and a complemental coupling part, separably engageable with the coupling part of the bow. In this instance, the bow is a flat-sided metal strip, bent to form spaced apart parallel .armsv12, 12, and a neck 15, connecting the members at one end thereof. The bow is adapted to be vertically supported, andthe arms 12 are connected at theirrupper end portions by a transverse rod 13, constituting the above-mentioned coupling part. l

16 designates the display board, which is preferably flatsided and of sheet metal,`

and is provided with merchandise-confining means hereinafter described, atone side, and

with a flange or hook 17at one end, consti- I folded, so that the links are concealed.

tuting the above-mentioned coupling part of the board, and separably engaged with the rod 13.

The arms 12 are connected with the board Y 16, by a swinging hinge connection embodied in two parallel links 18,'indicated by Figure i 8, the links being pivoted at 19 to the arms V12, and at 2O to ears or fianges 21, formed on the board 16. vThe arrangement is such that when the coupling hook 1.7 of' the board is en'- rgaged with the coupling rod 13 of the bow,

and the links 18 are substantially at right angles with the arms 12, the bow and board are connected in the form of an easel, as shownl by Figures 1,2, and 8, the bow constitutinga vertical member, and the board an inclined member of the easel.

Vhen the'coupling hook'vl is disengaged l The board ianges 21 extend lengthwise'of the board and are' spaced apart farther than i the arms V12,so that 'saidflanges overlap the outer sides of the arms when the rack is folded. The llinks 18 are interposed between the arms 12 and the 'anges -21, when the rack is arms 12 preferably have extensions projectingabove the rod 13, and provided with a sheetmetal head piece 23, constituting a dec orative finial, adapted to carry advertising matter, or a description of the goods held by the rack. When the rack is folded,-as shown by Figure 3, the head piece 23 is concealed.

, In folding the bow and display board to lgether to reduce the rack to a minimum The `r coniining articles of merchandise on the outer face of' the display board 16. TWhen the rack is used to display articles, such as oil stones,`a use to which it is being extensively put, I pre- `ler to embody the confining means as next described.`

The oil stones are enclosed in oblongpaper boxes 24, preparatory to being displayed by the rack. Y

The display board is provided with a plurality of pairs of hooked 'ears 25, projecting from the outer side or' the board, each pair of ears being preferably the end portions ofV a strip of resilient sheet metal including a neck 26, secured by rivets 27 to the board 16. The ears oi each pair are adapted to engage opposite sides oi a box 24. as best shown by Figure 7, and be interposed between said sides and the iangesfo'f the cover 28, of the box, as shown by Figure il. The ears prevent the box from being moved sidewise or outward from the board, and when the cover 28 is applied, they form stops 'for the flange portions at the ends of the cover, and thus prevent the boi:V from being moved end'wise from the board. -Vhenthe cover is removed, the box and a stone therein may be moved endwise and released'fro'm the ears and from the display board, the box and the stone contained thereinbeing deliverable to a customer.

The boxes may7 of course, be used 'for holdin@r other merchandise.

t'Ihe vouter or lower end of the display board is preferably provided'with an inclined iange 30, constituting a foot adapted to bear on a fiat support,as indicatedby Figure 2.

` I claim: 1. A display-rack structure comprising a substantially U-shaped bow composed of spaced apart parallel armsand a neck connecting the arms; la transverse coupling rod connecting the arms and spaced from the neck g a display board having merchandiseconfining means, iianges adapted to overlap the outer sides or" said arms, and a coupling hook adapted to separably engage the coupling rod; and parallel links pivoted to said arms andflanges, and adapted to extendeither parallel-with the arms, or at an angle therewith, the arrangement being'such that the structure may be converted into an easelshaped rack, adapted to bear on a horizontal support, by vengaging the coupling hook with the coupling rod, and arrangin 0' the links substantially atY right angles with the arms, and into a flat rack adapted to behungonavertical support, by disconnecting the hoek irom the rod, and arranging the links parallel with said arms, and extending toward the neck.

l 2. A display-rack structure as specified by claim l`,.the ends oit the links bearingon the outer sides of the arms Vand on the inner sides ofthe board iianges, so ythat the links are concealed between said arms and flanges when the structure is convertedinto a iiat rack.

3. I; display-rack structure as specified by claim, l, the. body portion including also a head piece attached tothe arms above the coupling rod and separated from the latter by a space permitting the engagement of the-coupling hook with said rod, the hook being' located below saidspace when the structure is converted into a fiat rack.

LI. A display-rack structure as specified by claim l, the arrangement being also suchthat thestructure. may be reduced to a minimum length for storage, by disconnecting the hook from the coupling-rod and arranging the links parallel with the arms `and extending away from the neck. e

In testimony whereof I have aiflxed my signature.

`I`WILLIAM H. AvnmnnA 

